Meteorology. Climatology

(QC:851-973)

QC 854 Dictionaries and Encyclopedias

The Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) "...is a comprehensive source of
information about satellite and in situ Earth science data, with broad
coverage of the atmosphere, hydrosphere, oceans, solid earth, and biosphere.
The GCMD is the American Coordinating Node of the Committee on Earth
Observation Satellites International Directory Network (CEOS IDN) and is
a participant in the U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP)."

"Software/documentation" offers information on software operating the site's
database; titles here are links to their respective texts.
"Projects/outreach" discusses projects of the GCMD; users should scroll to
view this document. "Forum" deails the INTEROP topic discussion group and
features a link to subscribe to the list. Also within the main page are
links to view the GCMD mission statement, a GCMD staff listing, a
description of future goals and plans, as well as a link to the Earth
Observing System (EOS) Data and Information WWW site. Finally, a link is
given to the CEOS homepage. Below the main page diagram, the user will find
other site areas: (1) general site information; (2) new additions; (3)
important GCMD links; (4) Global Climate Change WWW links for the month.

At the bottom of the site's main page, users will find a last group of
links: (1) standards; (2) FAQ; (3) search; (4) ftp site; (5) contact
information; and (6) e-mail creators. The site is sponsored by the CEOS
IDN; a branch of NASA; Washington, D.C.

The Weatherguide Glossary is a part of the Gopher directory of the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), established "...as a single
agency on the premise that oceanic, atmospheric, and related earth science
issues are inter-related and that common aprproaches to environmental
observation, sampling, analysis, prediction and management will lead to the
most cost effective approaches to fulfilling the Nation's [United States]
needs." The site offers a glossary of weather and weather-related
terminology to users.

Users should scroll to view the contents of the site. Terms are listed
alphabetically, with each entry featuring the word and a one to five
sentence definition.

The site is sponsored by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration;
U.S. Department of Commerce; Washington, D.C.

To Search:

Browse through listings.

QC 861.2 General Works, Treatises, and Advanced Textbooks

LDEO Climate Data Catalog is a part of the LDEO Climate Data Library, a part
of the WWW site for the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia
University (LDEO). The observatory and its programs compose a global
research institute devoted to climate prediction. This site "...contains a
wide variety of earth science data, primarily oceanographic and atmospheric
datasets..." and features an interface which "...allows [users] to make
plots, tables, and files from any dataset, its subsets, or processed
versions thereof."

At the top of the site are links to further information: (1) Introduction to
Climate Data; (2) a brief introduction on climate data; (3) an overview of
the LDEO Data Library; (4) search examples; and (5) FAQ's. Within the main
page, users can view search results of a world topography dataset or of an
ocean climatologies dataset by selecting the appropriate link or the color
image on the page's right side. Below this area is a directory of possible
search methods, in all cases, users should select the method of choice and
follow its screen links to view requested data.

"Dataset Search" allows for searching using an EXCITE search engine and
keyword field. "Place Name Search" gives access to NOAA Monthly Station
Data and NOAA Daily Station data for a search based on location or name.
"Datasets by Category" provides access to category-based inquiries, as well
as an introduction to climate data and the IGOSS Data Products Bulletin. At
the bottom of the directory, a user will find "Datasets by Source," a search
based on origination of data. "Other Data" lets a user read his/her own
netCDF/HDF/CDF file. Sample pages are also open for viewing: (1) SST and
Heat Flux; (2) Topography Viewer; and (3) Color the World Exhibit.

The Meteorological and Climatological Information Server Searcher (MACISS)
is "...a suite of software that collects the addresses of servers, extracts
information from the servers and adds this information to a searchable
database. Servers that are thought to contain a meteorological,
climatological,
or atmospheric science component are searched. Currently, this includes
those
that are predominantly weather oriented.... The database currently contains
URLs from over 600 servers."

Upon accessing the site, the user will find six links of interest. The
first offers basic information on the server; the second details its
searching capabilities. Functions of the searcher are explained in the
third link; the searching engine (or "form") is found in the fourth link
area. Suggestions for additional URLs for the site are added into the fifth
area's link; credits for the site's creation come in the last link. In all
cases, titles of links move the user to that particular area within the
site.

To search MACISS (the server), users should select the "search form" link at
the bottom of the site's main page. Both simple and complex queries are
possible; users should submit information into the provided field. Options
are also present for specifications within the query options, resulting
sets,
and broker records. Resulting matches will be a list of WWW sites,
containing further information on the submitted subject. For each WWW site
noted, the site's URL is its direct link to the WWW and its respective site.
A summary of the site's content is also accessible through a link displayed
in
the list.

The searcher is sponsored by the School of Earth Sciences; Atmospheric
Science; Macquarie University; Sidney, Australia.

To Search:

Select "search form" link at bottom of site's main page. Then fill in
appropriate search fields. Titles (URLs) of resulting site matches are
direct links to the WWW.

WMO-DDB's Climate Data Sets is a division of the World Meteorological
Organization (WMO), which "...coordinates global scientific activity to
allow increasingly prompt and accurate weather information and other
services for public, private, and commercial use, including international
airline and shipping industries." The site offers access to sixteen weather
data centers specializing in climate data.

Upon accessing the site, the user will find a listing of sixteen weather
data centers; each entry offers the name of a WWW site, the location of the
weather facility (country and city), and the name of the affiliated agency
or institution. Users should scroll to view all center listings; selecting
a center name provides direct access to the center's WWW site.

The site is sponsored by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO);
Geneva,
Switzerland.

To Search:

Select site of interest from listings; site titles are direct links to the
WWW.

WMO-DDB's Climate Monitoring is a division of the World Meteorological
Organization (WMO), which "...coordinates global scientific activity to
allow increasingly prompt and accurate weather information and other
services for public, private, and commercial use, including international
airline and shipping industries." The site offers access to four weather
data centers specializing in climate monitoring.

Upon accessing the site, the user will find a listing of four climate
monitoring centers; each entry offers the name of the center, its
predominant type of activity (climate prediction), and the name of the
affiliated agency or institution. Selecting a center name provides direct
access to the center's WWW site.

The site is sponsored by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO);
Geneva, Switzerland.

To Search:

Select site of interest from listings; site titles are direct links to the
WWW.

WMO-DDB's Web Servers is a division of the World Meteorological Organization
(WMO), which "...coordinates global scientific activity to allow
increasingly prompt and accurate weather information and other services for
public, private, and commercial use, including international airline and
shipping industries." The site offers access to six selected WWW sites in
the areas of meteorological, hydrological, and associated information.

Upon accessing the site, the user will find a listing of six weather web
servers; each entry provides the name of the server and its sponsoring
agency or organization, the location of the server (city and country), and a
brief description of the site, discussing its contents and scope. Selecting
a server name provides direct access to the server's WWW site.

The site is sponsored by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO);
Geneva,
Switzerland.

To Search:

Select site of interest from listings; site titles are direct links to the
WWW.

QC 875.A2A Metereological Stations and Observatories. Weather Service. General Works

Interactive Marine Observations offers current weather and sea state data
being reported by automated marine stations within the National Weather
Service (NWS).

The site's main page offers links to divisions of the National Weather
Service WWW site: (1) homepage; (2) main; (3) search; (4) archives; (5)
maps; (6) tables; (7) tides; (8) NDBC; (9) FAQ; and (10) guestbook. Within
the main page, a world map is featured with higlighted areas. Below the map
is a search field for Station ID data and links to: (1) U.S. buoy station ID
list; (2) CMAN Station ID list; (3) FAQ links; and (4) e-mail site creator.

QC 879.8 Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide

The Glossary: Carbon Dioxide and Climate is a companion site to that of the
Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center (CDIAC), the "primary
globe-change data and information analysis center of the U.S. Department of
Energy (DOE)....CDIAC's scope includes potentially anything...that would be
of value to users concerned with the greenhouse effect and global climate
change...." This glossary contains terms found in CDIAC documents and
sources.

The contents of this glossary come from the publication, Glossary: Carbon
Dioxide and Climate Change, edited by Fred O'Hara, Jr. The text was
published by the Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center, located at the
Oak Ridge National Laboratory; Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

Users will find terms listed alphabetically, viewed either by a browsing
method or through an index, found at the top of the site. Upon choosing a
letter category, the user will then move to that respective area in the
site. Individual records contain a one to four sentence definition of the
term.

This site is maintained by the Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center
(CDIAC); the Oak Ridge National Laboratory; Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

To Search:

Browse through site listings. Or select letter category of interest from
main listing to move directly to that area of the site.

QC 911 Solar Radiation. Sunshine. General Works

Climate and Radiation is a part of the Laboratory for Atmospheres within the
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) and "...conduct[s] basic and applied
research with the goal of improving the fundamental understanding of Earth's
regional and global climate on a wide range of spatial and temporal scales.
Research emphasis is on physical processes involving atmospheric radiation
and dynamics, in particular processes leading to the formation of clouds and
precipitation and their effects on the water and energy cycles of the
Earth."

At the top of the site are links to various NASA Research facilities and
centers: (1) NASA; (2) Goddard; (3) DAAC; (4) DAO; (5) EOS; (6) GOES; (7)
HPC; (8) MODIS; and (9) TRMM. The main page offers eleven major links,
accessible via the main diagram or the list provided below this image.
"Climate and Radiation" details general site information, providing links to
the Laboratory for Atmosphere and to its various research divisions.
Likewise, access is provided to publications and homepages of Goddard
scientists. "Aerosols" gives details on tropospheric aerosols, a research
focus; "analysis" details climate analysis done within the center. "Clouds"
describes cloud radiative process research; "modeling" describes climate
theory and modeling research at Goddard.

"Projects" displays an alphabetical list of Goddard climate and radiation
projects; each title is a direct link to its respective information.
"Personnel" offers a dual-frame screen; the left screen offers a main
directory, while the right frame displays branch office e-mail information.
"Publications" offers top links to a keyword search or a topic list of
publications. Users should select a link of interest to search; titles of
journals provide access to a list of holdings, and selecting an issue
reveals its contents. "Rainfall" details rainfall research information;
"remote sensing" discusses satellite remote sensing research. Lastly,
"WebSites" offers a list of related WWW sites, with titles providing direct
access to the WWW.

At the bottom of the site's main page are links to: (1) guestbook; (2)
feedback area; (3) NASA homepage; (4) Goddard homepage; and (5) e-mail site
creator. The site is sponsored by the Climate and Radiation Branch of the
Goddard Laboratory for Atmospheres; NASA Goddard Space Flight Center;
Greenbelt, Maryland.

To Search:

Select link of interest from site's main page; information pages contain
links to further information on research.

QC 925.1 Aqueous Vapor. Rain Observations. By Region or Country. North America,
United States, and Canada

Monthly Precipitation Data for U.S. Cooperative and NWS Sites is a directory
which contains "...historical monthly precipitation data for all U.S.
cooperative and National Weather Service (NWS) stations. The periods of
record vary by station, with some stations having data back to about 1900,
although many begin around the 1948 time frame. The data files are complete
through 1995. The directory has a data file for each state...along with one
file for several stations outside the U.S. such as Guam and Puerto
Rico....There are currently over 8000 NWS and cooperative weather stations
active and included in this directory, with many more currently inactive
stations also included."

Users will find that upon accessing the site, a link is available to a
higher
level directory, as well as a "read me" link, detailing site information and
instructions on accessing data via the WWW or FTP. All fifty states are
included in the directory; users need only select a location of interest to
view that region's records.

"The files consist entirely of ASCII character data. A header record begins
each file with the station number, station name, state abbreviation, year,
12 months (Jan-Dec), and 'annual' appearing from left to right. The monthly
and annual precipitation amounts are in inches and hundredths ....A value
of '9999' indicates missing or incomplete data for that month, with '99999'
indicating missing for the yearly total. The monthly total is only
presented when all reported data were available and validated for that
month. Likewise, the annual total is only presented when every monthly
total for the year was available. These data are taken from NCDC digital
database TD3220, which also contains additional elements such as temperature
and snowfall."

The site is maintained by Neal Lott; National Climactic Data Center;
Asheville, North Carolina.

To Search:

Select state or region of interest to view records. Browse through listings
of data.